(ANSA) - HONG KONG, DECEMBER 24 - Hong Kong intends to reopen its border with China by mid-January, Chief Executive John Lee announced on Saturday after returning from a visit to Beijing.
The border has been closed for three years due to China's 'zero Covid' strategy with some of the most draconian restrictions in the world to deal with the pandemic.
But in early December, following the protests, Beijing ended most stringent health measures, lifting quarantines and travel restrictions with a huge impact on the economy.
Since then, cases of Covid in China have exploded, saturating hospitals and morgues.
Despite the health situation, "the central government has decided to fully reopen the border, in a gradual and orderly manner," Lee told reporters upon arriving at the airport.
Local authorities on both sides of the border will submit a proposal, for Beijing's approval, "with the intention of implementing it by mid-January," she added.
(HANDLE).